Malaysia is poised to review automotive policies that is said to burden Malay entrepreneurs, according to a report by The Star. Prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that among the regulations that will be looked into include the RM10,000 fee for each open Approved Permit (AP), introduced in 2010.

While Najib said that the government has collected around RM2 billion in fees since its implementation, “this affected the cash flow of those in the industry.”

“The government is ready to look into what new steps can be taken to ease the burden of open AP companies,” Najib said, adding that Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed would submit recommendations for consideration and approval. He also said that any decision would involve government revenue, and the finance ministry would also be included in the decision-making.

Najib also mentioned that the government is interested in continuing to work with the Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (PEKEMA) to improve the industry further, inviting it to bring up weaknesses in policies or dissatisfactions.

“We can sit together and come up with the best solutions to overcome the challenges,” he said, adding that the government is targeting 27,000 job opportunities in the automotive industry this year, after securing 20,000 in 2016.

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

If want more revenue from the AP, the government should make a company under MITI to do this business. Rather than just giving the business to a group of people (PEKEMA) that don’t appreciate the profit they get. A/Several company under MITI doing all business related with AP will help government gain a lot in term of revenue.

AP = Free Easy Money, so for those who tidak mudah lupa, you’ll recall that they didn’t want to scrap the AP system because it will affect the livelihood of certain individuals. In other words, its ok to affect the livelihood of millions of citizens just to protect those that benefit fully from this AP system. Again, this is NOT a new issue nor is it a new question raised. Why after so many years of asking only want to consider to do something? You help me, I help you :)

What burden are you talking about? They charged me 50K for AP when I bought a recond car, that 40K profit!!! Still no enough, of course this is to be expected, when you get money for free its never enough.

U mean u bought the recon car without knowing how AP system works and now you’re complaining . Hahaha . You must be kidding . Nobody put a gun onto your head to buy recon cars . But at your accord and risks .

I think it would be better if Malaysia just stops the scheme. India does not allow importation of vehicles into the country except high end vehicles with high taxes. The rest must be locally built by majority locally owned companies. As a result, their productivity increased and their industry even exports their vehicles to Malaysia and others including CKD kits (e.g. Volkswagen Polo) or CBU (e.g. Suzuki Alto). So why can’t Malaysia do the same?

Very loose term ‘burden Malay entrepreneurs’,
does AP doesn’t burden those non-Malay entrepreneurs..? Malay protectionism much?
Macam mana nak jadi competitive if keeps on giving ‘discount and handouts’.
Just scrap the whole thing lah after selling off Proton to other car manufacturer, there is no ‘national automaker’ after that, nothing to protect already.

Good efforts! At least could ease the malay entrepreneurs even though only benefits to small group of them. In the meanwhile, the hang cheng from la la land always barking and shitting everywhere they live, so let them making noise.

Why bother with tongkat poweh? It is their country, their people. If they want to give tongkat poweh, none of your business unless those from tong kang from la la land who always making noise and complaint.

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